Locomotive toy and the like



Sept. 2 1924. 1,506,711

W. J. OLEARY LOCOMOTIVE TOY. AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 29, 1920 2ShlQtS-Sheat l 'illlln h.

8 n W nkoz Sept. 2. 1924. 1,506,771-

W. J. O'LEARY LOCOMOTIVE TOY AND THE LII EL Original Filed May 29. 19202 Sheets-Sheet z Patented Sent. 2, 1924.

WILLIAM J. OLEARY, Q3? IVIONTREAL, CANADA.

LOCOMGTIVE TOY AND THE LIKE.

Application filed May 29, 1920, Serial No. 385,218. Renewed November 10,1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. OLEARY, a subject of the King of England,residing at Montrea Dominion of Canada, have made a certain new anduseful invention in Locomotive Toys and the like, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates generally to locomotive toys of wheeled type, andmore specifically to electrically actuated toys.

It pertains also to certain improvements in electrically energizedactuated devices, particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for use intoys, and to electrical connecting and modifying devices designedparticularly for use in connection with electrically energized toys.

My invention has as a further object the provision of an electricallyoperated toy of locomotive type wherein, in addition to the means foraccomplishing the locomotive movement, means is provided for sustainingthe device on a suitable support against the influence of gravityconcomitantly with the operation of the motive elements to accomplishprogressive movement of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy of the kind justspecified, wherein the motive element and the sustaining element areenergized from the same source.

It is an ancillary object of my invention to provide a mechanical toy oflocomotive type wherein the motive elements are so mounted and disposedas to permit their adjustment to vary the course pursued by the toy inits locomotive or progressive movement.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed outhereinafter or will be obvious from the specification, claims, anddrawings forming a part of this application.

Considered in its general scope, my invention contemplates the provisionof a locomotive device which, for the purpose of illustration, may bemovable on wheels. Upon the locomotive portion of the device is carrieda suitable motive clement actuated from a suitable power source andeffective to accomplish locomotive or progressive movement of thedevice. In the event the power elements are energized from an electricalsource, the said motive elements may be in the form of a smallelectrical motor supplied from an external power source, such as theordinary service line, of electrical power,

through the medium of a safety element and electrical connections in theform of wires or other conductors which are freely movable to permit thedesired activity of the locomotive portion of the device. Theseconductors or movable leads are preferably permanently secured to themotive elements, so-

that others cannot be substituted.

Carried on the locomotive element is a sustaining device whose essentialattribute is its capacity for maintaining the locomotive device upon asuitable support against the influence of gravity concurrently with theoperation of the motive elements to effect. progressive or locomotivemovement of the device. If desired, this sustaining element may beelectrically. energized. In such case it may be desirable to constituteit of a permanent magnet or of an electro-magnet or of a compoundpermanent and electro-magnet, so that when placed on a support ofmegnetic material, such as an iron or steel plate or wall, thelocomotive device will be sustained thereon against the influence ofgravity while the motive elements are eifective to move the device alongthe surface of the support.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention, I have selected as anillustrative embodiment a locomotive device in the form of a militarytank and have shown an arrangement of motive and sustaining elementwherein said parts are energized by electricity.

Inasmuch, however, as the scope of my invention is indicated in theclaims and not simply by the illustrative disclosure herein, it is to beunderstood that the particular disclosures of the locomotive element,motive element and sustaining element are not intended as indicative ofthe range of embodiments of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional elevationof the device;

Figure 2 atop view with parts broken away;

Figure 3 a diagrammatic illustration of electrical windings andconnections which may be employed invthe device.

Referring to these illustrations by means of the reference charactersapplied, let it be understood that the letter C indicates generally thelocomotive element of the invention. This includes the body and theparts movable therewith. The body as illustrated is in aconventionalized form of a military tank having side portions 1connected by a casing portion 2, The casing and side portions form amounting for the motor frame 4:. This is pivoted at 5 to the casingportion, and movably connected at 6 to an arcuate rod 7 mounted at itsends in the side members 1. The rod 7 is curved on a radius from thepivot 5 so that the frame may be swung to various angular positionsrelative to the longitudinal median line of the body. Mounted on theframe 4 is a motor 8 including the driven shaft 9 which'carries thetraction wheels 10. The motor is supplied with current from an externalsource by means of conductors 11 forming a movable connection betweenthe source of supply and the body. This connection is preferablypermanently connected tothe body, so that others cannot be substituted,it being let in to the casing 2 through an aperture lined with asuitable insulating bushing 12, and its point of connection to the motor.concealed and enclosed by the casing 2. Operation of the motor causesrotation of the traction wheels 10, which produces locomotive movementof the body when said wheels are in contact with a suitable support. Thedirection and course of movement of the body may be varied by changingthe angular adjustment of the motor frame on the pivot 5 and rod 7.Trail wheels 14: may be suitably mounted on the body member to maintainit free of the surface on which the device is supported and to afford arolling support. Suitably mounted on the body is a sustaining element,which in the embodiment shown, is in the form of a magnet 15, the coils16 of which are adapted to be energized by current conducted on theleads 17 from the conductors 11. In this embodiment of the device thepower of the magnet will be effective to sustain the locomotive elementon a suitable support S, in the form of a plate of magnetic materialsuch as steel or iron, against the influence of gravity, while theoperation of the motive elements will be effective to accomplishprogressive or locomotive movement of the body. In this fashion the toywill be enabled to emulate its historical prototype in the surmountingof obstacles and the scaling of steep slopes.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a slightly different form ofthe present invention wherein the sustaining element comprises aconstruction in which the axles 13, and the wheels 3 and 10' ofasuitable motor are magnetiz'able material. These axles 13 aresurrounded by coils in such manner that when the motor is energized thewheels 3 and 10 are magnetized thereby causing the wheels to besustained from any magnetizable material such as an iron plate orceiling, assuming that the energy is suflicient to produce magnetism ofsuch strength as to sustain the weight of the toy. Itwill be noted byreference to Figure 3 that the adjacent wheels are of opposite polarity.This tends to increase the effectiveness of the magnetic forces.l?referably the wheels 10 are arranged in pairs having a common axiswhile the wheels 3 are spaced apart from the wheels '10, with the axisof the wheels 3 substantially parallel, preferably, to the axes of thewheels 10 in such manner that effective to sustain the device upon asuit able support against the influence of gravity. This magneticeflectivenessof the traction wheels 10 further renders them moreeffective in propelling the device, be cause of the increase tractionafforded by their magnetic attraction for the support on which theytravel.

In this arrangement of the motive element and the sustaining element, itwill be obscrved that the arrangement of the magnetized members providestwo lines of support for the device, the supporting members on each linebeing magnetically effective to secure the desired adhesion to thesupporting surface. By virtue of this arrangement the device will beevenly supported, and will not tend to rock away from the supportingsurface as in the arrangement wherein the adhesion is on a single line.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: V

1. A locomotive toy comprising a body portion, a drive wheeladapted tosupport a part of the body portion, an electricmotor adapted to operatesaid drive wheel, a main circuit leading to said motor, a trail wheeladapted to support another part of said body portion, andelectromagnetic means connected to said main circuit and mounted in saidbody portion and connect ed to the motor circuit in such manner thatsaid electromagnetic means is constantly energized when the motor isenergized and is so arranged relatively to the center of gravity of thedevice as to maintain both the drive wheel and the trail wheel incontact with a surface of material capable of being magnetized when saidwheels ordinarily would tend to leave said surface due to gravitywhereby said toy may be run upon the under surface of an iron ceiling orthe like,

A locomotive toy comprising a body portion, a drive wheel adapted tosupport a part of the body portion, an electric motor adapted to operatesaid drive wheel, a trail wheel adapted to support another part of saidbody portion, and electromagnetic means mounted in said body portion andconnected to the motor circuit in such manner that said electromagneticmeans is energized when the motor is energized and is so arrangedrelatively to the center of gravity of the device as to maintain boththe drive wheel and the trail wheel in contact with a surface ofmaterial capable of being magnetized when said wheels ordinarily wouldtend to leave said surface due to gravity whereby said toy may be runupon the under surface of an iron ceiling or the like.

3. A locomotive toy comprising an elongated body portion, a drive wheeladapted to support the forward part of the body portion, an electricmotor adapted to operate said drive wheel, a trail wheel adapted tosupport the rear part of said body portion, and electromagnetic meansmounted in said body portion between said wheels and connected to themotor circuit in such manner that said electromagnetic means isenergized when the motor is energized and is so arranged relatively tothe center of gravity of the device as to maintain both the drive wheeland the trail wheel in contact with a surface of material capable ofbeing magnetized when said wheels ordinarily would tend to leave saidsurface due to gravity whereby said toy may be run portion, drivingmechanism comprising motor and a drive wheel mounted 111 the forwardpart of said body portion, a trail wheel adjacent the rear part of saidbody portion an electric circuit leading to said motor, andelectromagnetic means connected with said circuit in such manner as tobe energized when said motor is energized and to maintain both wheels incontact with a magnetizable material so as to sustain the toy suspendedtherefrom while the motor is energized.

5. An electromagnetic toy comprising a body portion an electric motordrive comprising a motor and driving wheels, a frame having the forwardend thereof pivoted on the body portion, with the rear end of the saidframe being adapted to swing on a suitable guideway to cause the deviceto travel a predetermined path, and trailer wheels on the rear part ofsaid body portion.

6. An electromagnetic toy comprising a sheet metal body portion, anelectric motor drive comprising a motor and driving wheels, a framehaving the forward end thereof pivoted on the body port-ion, a curvedguideway carried by the said body portion, the rear end of the saidframe being adapted to swing on the said guideway and trailer wheels onthe rear part of said body portion.

WILLIAM J. OLEARY.

